To satisfy regulatory requirements, where must backup data be located?

Backup data must be located in geographically separate data centers to satisfy regulatory requirements for several important reasons.

Storing backup data in separate geographical locations helps mitigate risks related to data loss due to natural disasters, physical theft, or localized incidents (like fires or floods) that could affect a single data center. This practice supports business continuity and disaster recovery initiatives, ensuring that data remains accessible and secure even if one location becomes compromised or inoperative.

Furthermore, many regulatory frameworks emphasize the importance of data redundancy and availability as part of compliance. Storing backups in different geographical areas enhances data integrity, reducing the likelihood of total data loss and helping organizations meet requirements imposed by regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and others that prioritize data protection.

In contrast, keeping backup data on a cloud server, in the same data center, or permanently offline doesn't address the need for geographical diversity, which is a critical aspect of effective backup strategies in compliance with regulatory standards.